Woman pleads in endangering case

A Louisville, Ohio woman, charged with misdemeanor child endangering after Mahoning County Sheriff’s deputies said she left her child alone on a boat in nothing but a bathing suit, entered a guilty plea Thursday.

Erika Blakely, 31, was sentenced in Mahoning County Court to 12 months probation and was also given a $1,000 fine with $750 suspended. A six month jail sentence was also suspended.

Blakely must also attend parenting classes as part of her plea. She must also pay restitution to the Berlin Center Fire Department for its costs incurred in responding to the incident.

Sheriff’s deputies said she left her son, 6, alone on a boat for several hours June 20 at a campground at Berlin Reservoir.

Witnesses reported seeing the boat pull into shore about 11 p.m., then heard the boy, who was wet, shivering and clad only in a swimsuit, crying for help from the boat about 11:25 p.m. The witnesses said they pulled the boy ashore, wrapped him in a blanket and called 911.

A deputy arrived about 20 minutes later and put the boy in a cruiser with the heat on. Reports said Blakely did not appear until 12:05 p.m., and she claimed she was only gone for 10 minutes, reports said.